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First appearance of Immigration Laws pass
In 1882 President Chester A. Arthur banned the majority of Chinese immigration. Although this is not specific to Mexican Immigration, it is the first sign of illegal immigration being banned which led to more events down the road. Before this event immigration was barely regulated. -
Ellis Island Opening
Ellis Island opened as the New York portal for Immigrants. People who entered were required to prove their identities, answer a series of questions, find a friend or relative who could vouch for them, and were scanned for physical ailments. It was the newest way to process immigrants. This is important because it was during this time immigration was becoming a bigger deal in the United States -
Head Tax is raised
People with physical or mental defects, tuberculosis, and children accomponied by a parent are added to the exclusion list. Maaning, they are not allowed to immigrate. Japan agreed to limit immigrants to U.S in return for elimination of the seperation of students in schools -
Immigration Quota Law passed
Congress passed a Quota Law that reduced immigration to 357,000 a year and limited the number of immigrants from any one country. This event is an important historical event relating to U.S Mexico immigration because it shows that immigration was a prelevant issue in the United States at the time. -
Publishing of Los Angeles regarding Mexican Immigration
An article was written that brought attention to all citizens and governements. The article disucessed how ranch workers entered California without passing the literacy test or the $18.00 entrance fee. This event is important because it was one of the first public announcements regarding illegal immigration from Mexico to the United States. -
Crash of Stock Market (Black Tuesday)
After the stock market crashed in 1929 it resulted in the U.S. tightening visa rules and becomin more strict with immigration laws. This law reduced Mexican immigration drastically. Local, state and federal government officials discussed what to do with those already here. Some Mexicans left voluntarily or under pressure from the government. Others were deported. Eventually between about 500,000 to 1,000,000 Mexicans left because of this important event. -
Alien Registration Act
Alien Registration Act was passed by Congress in 1940. The Act made it illegal for any resident or citizen of the United States of America to teach or advocate the violent overthrow of the U.S. government. The law also forced non-citizens to register with the U.S. government so that the government would be able to track them and their un-American ideas which may or may not lead to the overthrow of the government. It is also reffered to as the green card legislation. -
Start of the Bracero Program
Today's extreme levels of immigration resulted from the war years of the 1940's. Labor shortages caused the federal government to set up a program to import Mexican laborers to work temporarily in agriculture, primary in the Southwest. This program resulted in higher numbers of illegal immigrants in our country, which makes it an important event regarding U.S Mexico Immigration -
Joseph Swing appointed to head the Immigration and Naturalization Program
Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed Joseph Swing to be president of this program. This program led to many different events regarding Mexican immigration. It appointed thousands of border patrol agents which resulted in many illegal immigrants being sent home to Mexico. -
Closing of Ellis Island
When Ellis Island was shut down it had processed over 12 million legal immigrants. Although this doesn't necessarily relate hand in hand with mexican immigration it is a big event in history regarding immigration and effected all other aspects. -
Ending of the Bracero Program
The ending of the Bracero program occured because of the complaints from U.S citizens saying Mexican-Americans were taking their jobs. This resulted in many Mexican immigrants returning to the U.S illegally. This event is important because it adds to the history of all immigration in the United States. -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
This act made laws for immigration stricter and added many more restrictions. It included nummerical restrictions on visas not including relatives of U.S citizens or "special" immigrants. It is important because it adds mor laws and restrictions to our society regarding the subject of immigration. -
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
This act required employers to attest to their employees' immigration status. It also made it illegal to knowingly hire or recruit illegal immigrants. It legalized certain seasonal agricultural illegal immigrants as well. -
U.S.A Patriot Act
Due to 9/11, restrictions were added on immigration from around the world. It created a Department of Homeland Security and increased border control. It also made it a requirment to have one's passport machine readable. This is an important event because 9/11 was such a big event in our country's history. -
REAL ID Act
This modified U.S federal law that introduces rules covering bail bonds for illegal immigrants. This updates and tightens laws on the application for asylum and deportation for aliens regarding terrorist activities. -
Arizona Immigration Law
This law, refered to as SB 1070 was passed in Arizona in 2010.This law is one of the strictist anti-illegal immigration to ever be passed. This law requires all immigrants over the age of 14 that remain in the United States for more than 30 days to register with the U.S government. The purpose of this law was to organize immigration in a more productive manner
